Wardrobe construction



- Aug. 9, 1960 WARDROBE CONSTRUCTION Filed June 4, 1958 2 Sheets-Sheet 174 INVENTOR.

F. w. HANSEN 2,948,577

1960 F. w. HAN-SEN 2,948,577

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United States Patent WARDROBE CONSTRUCTION Francis W. Hansen, Kenosha,Wis., assignor to Simmons Company, New York, N.Y., a corporation ofDelaware Filed June 4, 1958, Ser. No. 739,816

2 Claims. (01. 312264) This invention relates to wardrobe cabinets orthe like and more particularly to a wardrobe construction which has abuilt-in appearance but which is factory-made and adapted for assemblyon the site of installation.

The main objects of the invention are to bring to socalled customwardrobe installations the cost advantages of factory manufacture, andthe strength and durability of metal framing, in a form of constructionwhich not only permits the use of wood or other desirable exteriorfinishes, but which is alsoadaptable with minor adjustment ormodification to display a finished appearance on either or both of itssides, in addition to its front, as may be required in a giveninstallation.

Further objects of the invention are the provision of a wardrobeconstruction which may be shipped in a knockdown condition and easilyassembled on the site of installation with a minimum of tools and labor.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent fromthe following description and accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a wardrobe cabinet inaccordance withthe invention;

Figure 2 is a perspective view of the skeletal frame of the cabinetshown in Figure 1;

Figure 3 is an enlarged fragmentary perspective view of the top frontcorner of the cabinet shown in Figure l, the doors being removed;

Figure 4 is an enlarged sectional view taken along the line of 44 ofFigure 1, the shelf and doorsbeing removed and the drawing foreshortenedin both directions by breaking away non-essential portions;

Figure 5 is a foreshortened sectional view taken along the line 5-5 ofFigure 4.

A wardrobe cabinet in accordance with the present invention may be madein various sizes and proportions depending upon the requirements of theinstallation. The particular embodiment illustrated is designed to fitinto a corner of a room in such a way that only the front face and oneof the side faces is exposed to view. As will be explained, however, theconstruction is easily adapted so that either one or both of the sidefaces may be open to view, as may be required.

Referring particularly to Figures 2, 4 and 5, it may.

be seen that the cabinet includes a self-standing skeletal metalframework '8 comprising connected front and back rectangular frames '10and 12. The framework is enclosed by exterior panels which arepre-fitted to the frame and adapted along certain of their edges forinterlocking engagement with fastening elements which are in partintegral with the frame, and in part fastened thereto The wardrobeproper when assembled maybe set upon a low base which is recessedslightly from the front face of the wardrobe, as is customary to providetoe room. The panel doors, which are not themselves a part of theinvention, are mounted within the front frame to constitute the frontface of the wardrobe cabinet.

Patented Aug. 9, 1960 The front and back vertically disposed rectangularframes 10 and 12 are fabricated from angle iron by welding. The flangesof the rear frame 12 (Figs. 4 and 5) are directed inwardly and forwardlyso that the corners of the angle bars form the rear corners of theskeletal framework 8. The flanges of the front frame 10 are of unequalwidth, the wider flange or leg 14 being directed rearwardly to form thesides of the frame 10, and'the narrower leg 16 extending outwardly 'to'form a border or facing flange for the front face of the cabinet.

As shown in Figures 4 and 5, the forwardly-directed flanges 18 of therear frame .12, and the wider, rearwardly-directed flanges 14 of thefront frame 10, occupy common planes, and are connected togetherbybraces 20 which, in illustrated embodiment, are also formed of angleiron. The braces 20 preferably extend between corresponding corn'ers ofthe front and rear frames 10 and 12, and are secured thereto by means ofscrews with the flanges of the braces flat against the inside corners oftheframes. The mid-portions of the braces 20 are offset from their endsso that the outer surfaces of ner that the braces 20 are secured inplace. The shelf supports 22 may also be formed of angle iron, oneflange or leg of the angle extending horizontally inwardly to supportthe shelf.

The space within the skeletal metal frame'sis enclosed by securingsuitable panels to the frame. If exposed to view, the panels may bedecorative in nature consisting, for example, of various forms of woodproduct having an attractive veneer or other decorative exterior or ifconcealed by the installation, may be of a more utilitarian nature. V

In the illustrated embodiment, which is designed to be fitted into acorner of a room, only one of the sides is exposed to view. Therefore,referring particularly to Figure 4, the left-hand side panel 24 is adecorative panel and has a thickness such that it is approximately flushwith the front border flange 16 of the skeletal frame. The other sidepanel 26, and the rear and top panels 28 and 30, being normallyconcealed and having no relation of dress of the finished article, maybe substantially thinner and consists, for example, of sheet metal,pressed hardboard, or the like. The floor panel 32, for reasons ofconvenience and practicality, is as thick as the front border flange 16is wide, inasmuch as it is used to support the entire cabinet in a levelposition, either on the floor of the room, or on a pedestal or base 34,as indicated in Figure 1. e W

As previously indicated, the covering panels are secured to theframework by interlocking engagement with fasteners which are, in part,integral with the framework, and in part secured thereto with the panelsin the process of assembly. 1

For the mounting of the thick decorative panel, at the left hand side ofFigure 4, a U-shaped retaining strip 36 having legs of unequal length issecured to the front frame '10 by spot welding the longer leg of the Uto the longer leg or flange|14 of the front frame. The mating front edgeof the decorative side panel 24 is appropriately grooved along itslength at 38 to receive the shorter leg 40 of the retaining strip in atongue-andgroove connection. The panel is also appropriately 3 relievedat its interior front corner to provide clearance for the longer leg andbase of the locking strip in order that a tight fit may be maintainedbetween the front flange 16 and the outer portion of the front edge ofthe panel 24-. From Figure 4 it will be seen that the inner edge portionof the panel lying inside of the groove 38 likewise forms a tongue whichis disposed between the two legs of the retaining strip 36.

The rear edge of the decorative panel 24 is similarly grooved at 42, andis secured to the skeletal metal frame 8 by means of an elongatedclamping strip 44 which is provided with two locking edges or arms 46and 37 which are generally parallel to the flanges of the uprights ofthe rear frame 12. One of these edges 46 is inserted into the groove 42at the rear edge of the decorative panel and serves, when the lockingstrip is secured in place, to fasten the rear edge of the decorativepanel securely against the rear frame 12. As shown in Figure 4, the rearlocking strip is secured to the rear frame by means of sheet metalscrews or the like, which pass through appropriately spaced holes 48 inthe corners of the rear frame 12 and into corresponding holes in thelocking strip. The fastening screws extend through the corner of theframe 12 and into the clamping strip obliquely to the flanges of theframe and to the arms of the strip so that the arms of the clampingstrip advance edgewise as well as inwardly when the fastening screws aretightened. They thus assist in assuring a tight fit between the forwardedge of the panel 24 and the front facing flange 16 of the framework.

The rear edge portion of the panel 24 outwardly of the groove 42 extendssufliciently rearwardly to conceal the rear clamping strip 44 from sideview and to permit a tight fit of the side panel 24 to a wall or otherbacking surface.

The locking arrangement on the opposite unexposed side of the wardrobeis identical in principle and modified only to suit the thinner panel 26which is there used. Specifically, an angle strip 50 is secured to theback face of the front border flange 16 of the front frame 10 in such away as to provide between its rearwardly directed leg 52 and the wideflange 14 of the front frame "10, a groove in which to receive the frontedge of the panel. The rear edge of the right sidepanel 26 is clamped tothe rear frame 12 in a manner identical with that described for thedecorative panel on the left side, with the exception that the rightside panel, being thinner, is not grooved at its rear edge, which isentirely encompassed between the rear frame 12 and the clamping strip44.

The rear frame panel 28 is secured to the skeletal metal frame along itsside edges coincidentally with the clamping of the side panels 24- and26, the respective clamps 44 at each rear corner of the frame serving tosimultaneously secure the rear and side panels when the fastening screwsare tightly drawn up.

The thin top panel 30 (Figs. 3 and 5) is secured in place along itsfront edge and side edges in a manner very similar to that alreadydescribed in connection with the side panels. Specifically, anangle-shaped retaining strip 54 is secured, as by spot welding, to theback face of the portion of the front border flange 16 which extendsacross the top of the front frame 10. The rear Wardly extending leg 56of the locking strip 54 is parallel to and spaced from the rearwardlyextending leg 14 of the front frame so as to form therewith a groove inwhich the front edge of the top panel is received. .At its rear edge,the top panel 30 is secured in place by an angle or L-shaped clampingstrip 58 which is secured to the rear frame by means of screws. Theforwardlyextending leg of the strip 58 clamps the rear edge of the toppanel 30 to the rear frame 12 when the screws are tightly drawn up, andthe other leg of the rear retaining strip simultaneously serves tosecure the top 4 edge of the rear panel 28 to. the upper part of therear frame 12.

It is desirable to also secure the top panel against the frame along itsside edges as well as at front and back. Along its side edge which isadjacent to the thinner non-decorative side panel, the top panel may beclamped in place by a retaining strip identical with the strip 58employed for the back edge of the top panel, said strip also serving toclamp or retain the upper edge of the side panel 26 to hold the lattersecurely against the framework. However, on the side edge of the toppanel adjacent the decorative side panel 24, a different clampingarrangement is used because of the fact that the exposed decorativepanel, for the sake. of appearance, extends to the top edge 'of thefront border flange 16, and would therefore not permit the use of thesame type of clamp. In that case, an L-shaped retaining strip 60,similar to the strip 54 which retains the front edge of the top panel,is secured by means of screws to the inside face ofthe side panel 24 andbears down upon the side edge of the top panel 30 to hold the latter inplace. I

From the foregoing description, it will be understood that the thickerdecorative panel 24 or the thinner utilitarian panel 26 may be used ateither side of the cabinet by selection of the proper front retainingstrips at the front edges of the side panels, and at the side edges ofthe top panels.

The doors of the cabinet may be mounted for sliding or for swinging inthe usual manner and by mounting means which are well known in the artand form no part of the present invention. If the wardrobe does notextend to the ceiling of the room in which it is placed, a suitablesoffit not shown in the drawings, may be placed between the top of thewardrobe and the ceiling of the room, to complete the built-inappearance.

iFrom the foregoing description, it will be understood that thedescribed construction is one which lends itself readily to factorymanufacture, and to ease of assembly using pre-fabricated parts whichmay be made with all necessary precision to permit the installation ofthe unit in a manner such as to appear built into the surroundrngs.

Features of the invention believed new and patentable are set forth inthe following claims.

Iclaim:

1. A knock-down wardrobe cabinet or the like comprising a skeletal metalframe work including front and rear rectangular frames of angle iron,the flanges of said front frame being directed outwardly and rearwardlyand the flanges of said rear frame being directed inwardly andforwardly, said respectively rearwardly and forwardly directed flangesof the two frames being aligned in common planes, angle iron bracesextending between corresponding corners of said frames to maintain saidframe work in self-standing disposition with said frames in parallelspaced relation, said braces being removably secured to said frames withtheir flanges flat against the inside corners of said frames and havingtheir portions between said frames offset into the common planes of theopposed flanges of said two frames, side and back panels enclosing saidframework, means securing said panels to the outside of said frameworkincluding a front retaining strip having an edge extending rearwardlyfrom the outwardly directed flange of said front frame and spaced fromthe other flange thereof, said side panels engaging the sides of saidframes and braces and having forward edge portions disposed between saidretaining strip edges and said other flanges, said rear panel engagingthe inwardly directed flanges of said back frame, and clamping stripsalong the side back corners of said framework, said clamping stripsbeing disposed on the outsides of said back corners and havingsidewardly extending arms overlapping adjacent edge portions of saidside panels and back panel, said clamping strips being secured to saidframework by screws passing through the uprights of said back frameobliquely to both flanges thereof thereby to simultaneously secure saidadjacent edges of the back and side panels to said framework.

2. A wardrobe cabinet construction in accordance with claim 1 in which aside panel thereof is as thick as the outwardly directed flange of thefront frame is wide, and in which the front and rear edges thereof areslotted to receive said front retaining strip and an arm of said rearclamping strip respectively, thereby to provide inner front frame, andbetween said clamping strip and rear frame.

References Cited in the file of this patent edge portions disposedbetween said retaining strip and 10 2,722,468

UNITED STATES PATENTS Bales Apr. 19, 1932 Richardson May 24, 1938Wallance Oct. 23, 1951 Wallance et al. Dec. 7, 1954 Perrin Nov. 1, 1955

